(CLO) The main opposition party in South Korea announced that it will continue to launch efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14 after he declared martial law, causing a wave of anger and protests nationwide.
On Saturday night (December 7), under pressure from hundreds of thousands of protesters outside the National Assembly in cold weather, the impeachment proposal against President Yoon still failed because it did not get enough votes.
Leader of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on December 8, 2024. Photo: AFP/Yonhap
To pass, the proposal needed 200 votes from a total of 300 lawmakers, but the near-total boycott by the ruling People Power Party (PPP) prevented it from passing.
Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung vowed not to stop. "Mr. Yoon, who led the uprising and military coup, has destroyed the constitutional order of South Korea. He must resign immediately or be impeached," Mr. Lee told reporters.
Martial law was declared by President Yoon on Tuesday night (December 3), with the reason being "to protect South Korea from threats from North Korean forces and eliminate anti-country elements". The military has sealed off the National Assembly building, sent helicopters to the roof, and sent nearly 300 soldiers to try to control the place.
However, parliament staff used sofas and fire extinguishers to block soldiers, while many lawmakers climbed over the wall to get inside to vote to reject martial law.
The move has evoked painful memories of dictatorships in South Korea's history and surprised allies, including the United States, who had only heard the news on television.
Lee Jae-myung called President Yoon's move a "soft coup," while National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the prime minister and the ruling party's taking the power to replace the president without going through the constitutional process was a serious violation of the law.
Police are investigating Mr. Yoon and other officials on charges of insurrection. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on Sunday morning (Dec. 8). Mr. Kim had resigned on Wednesday and was banned from leaving the country. On the same day, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min also submitted his resignation, which President Yoon accepted.
Hundreds of thousands of people continued to take to the streets to demand President Yoon's resignation. According to police, about 150,000 people participated, but organizers claimed the number was up to 1 million.
Protesters held flags, LED lights, and sang K-pop songs while demanding an end to military intervention in politics.
"Even though we didn't get the results we wanted today, I'm not discouraged. We will continue to fight," said Jo Ah-gyeong, 30.
Amid the turmoil, the PPP said it had reached an agreement with Mr Yoon that he would not interfere in state affairs, but did not say when he would step down.
However, the Democratic Party said the deal was unconstitutional. "The president's power is not Yoon's personal property," Lee Jae-myung stressed. "This is another coup that undermines the constitutional order."
Hong Hanh (according to Reuters, AFP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phe-doi-lap-han-quoc-tiep-tuc-no-luc-luan-toi-tong-thong-yoon-suk-yeol-post324722.html
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